Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother's Day to all my mommy friends, the soon-to-be mommies, the moms to fur babies, and to all those wishing to be mommies but having difficulties.
I want to give a special shout to the best Grandma ever, my amazing aunts Anne, Janet, Joann, and Debbie, Nick's second mom (his sponsor mom) Lisa, and of course, my own amazing mother!!!!

I'm not a mother yet, but my sweet pups did get me a Mother's Day card :)

Other than that, I spent my day sad that I couldn't be at home celebrating with my family.  But I did get to FaceTime with everyone when they were all gathered at my Aunt's house.  Thank goodness for technology because it definitely makes days like today soooo much easier.  Major props to you milspouses before we had all this technology!

Grandma wanted to FaceTime with Yadi lol

It's really hard for me to be away from my mother on Mother's Day.  She's my world.  My mother is literally my best friend.  I know we have a unique relationship and I am so grateful for it.  When I think back on my childhood, I can't remember a time when we didn't get along.  You always here people talk about how they went through that phase with their moms (early adolescents) but I never did.  I thought maybe I blocked it from my memory but when I asked my mom, she confirmed we never experienced that phase.  I honestly never fought with my mother.  We never didn't get along.  I never disobeyed her.  If I ever did lie to her (like sneaking out to Danny's house with Julie or attending a sleepover where boys were sleeping over too), I would tell her withint 24 hours because I felt sooooo guilty lying to her.
I've always talked to my mother about anything and everything.  I'm sure she doesn't want to hear 85% of what I tell her (I'm a TMI person lol) but she puts up with me (with lots of eye rolling, numerous gasps followed by "Melanie Ann!!!" and constant "You are so bizarre!" comments.  I really have no idea where I get my weirdness or obnoxiousness from!  She's much the opposite!)

Photo Credit: i Kandi Photography

My mother has always supported me in anything I wanted to do.  She's always believed in me.  When I was diagnosed with cancer, my mother stepped forward and exhibited a strength that still amazes me to this day.  She was my rock, my smile, and my strength.  She refused to let me give up when life became too painful for me.  She still remains to be that for me on my weak days.  She let me go when it hurt her too much because she knew it was best for me, and was there for me when I had a rough time with it.
When Nick came into my life, she accepted him and loved him as her own.  (Sometimes I think she loves him more than she loves me.)  When we got engaged, she couldn't have been happier for me.  Throughout wedding planning, she helped me more than I could ever thank her.  She offered her opinion but never, ever tried to take control or convince me to do as she wanted or thought best.  She's a huge reason why our wedding turned out so beautiful and so fun.  Because of our incredibly close bond, I chose to forego tradition and had BOTH of my parents walk me down the aisle.  My mother is just as important as my father and I wanted them to both have that great honor.

Photo Credit: i Kandi Photography 

Moving away from home was so incredibly hard.  Saying goodbye to my mother was honestly the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  And each goodbye since then has been almost as hard.

I've lived out of state for almost two years now, but our bond has only gotten closer through the use of technology.  We finally convinced Mom to get an iPhone so we can FaceTime.  She's also completely mastered texting and Facebook so she's able to keep up-to-date.
My mother and I speak every single day.  Yes.  EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
Some days, (before I was working) she would call on her lunch break if she was bored.  And we talk every single night before bed.  Some nights, it might be a one minute conversation that consists of "I'm going to bed."  "Okay, goodnight. I love you."  "I love you, too.  Goodnight."  But most nights, we talk for quite a while.  About our day, any thoughts, venting, etc.  We don't talk because I have a mother who can't let go.  We don't talk out of obligation.  We talk simply because we're best friends and love talking to one another.  There have been some nights where we don't talk (because I'm out with friends) and that's okay.   We aren't distraught over it.  It doesn't hurt us or make us upset.  It just gives us more to talk about the next day!!!

I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my mother.  It most definitely makes the distance harder, but I wouldn't trade our relationship for anything.  My mother is my world.  She is honestly the most amazing person I've ever met.  I know people say this about so many people, but my mother truly is.  She's beautiful inside and out.  She's the most selfless, caring, funny (without evening trying), clumsy, loving, supportive, emotional, hard working, and dedicated person I have ever met.  My siblings and I are lucky to have her as a mother.  And anyone who has ever met her should consider themselves just as lucky.

I love you, Mom!!!  I'm sorry I couldn't be there today but I hope you enjoyed your gift, card, and our FaceTime session.  You deserve the best day not only today, but every day!!!!  I can't wait for you to be here again in 44 days!!!!  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!